The National Kidney Foundation suggests preventing UTIs by:

• Drinking lots of fluids, including cranberry juice cocktail

• Urinating when the urge strikes (don’t delay)

• Wiping from front to back to keep bacteria from entering the urinary tract

• Cleaning genital area each day and before sex

Symptoms of UTIs include burning feeling during urination, cloudy or blood-tinged urine, strong odor in urine or an urgent need to urinate with only a few drops passing. (Source: National Kidney Foundation)

Can you have a UTI without symptoms?

Actually, yes. I didn’t have any of the symptoms above, but a routine test during an annual exam a couple of months ago showed I had a UTI. It took two rounds of different meds to clear it up. There’s an argument for not skipping your physical. If UTIs aren’t treated properly, kidney damage may occur.

On World Kidney Day, March 12, you may be able to receive a free kidney screening. Visit the World Kidney Day page at the National Kidney Foundation for more information.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections

According to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, about one in every 3,600 children born in Canada has CF. In the US, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation believes there are about 1,000 new cases of CF each year, with 30,000 children and adults in the US affected. Worldwide, that number rises to 70,000.

Sixtyfive Roses: A Sister’s Memoir by Heather Summerhayes Cariou tells the story of a family dealing with CF. At six years old, Heather promises her younger sister Pam, diagnosed with CF and given two months to live, that she’ll die with her. Yet, something very different happens in this moving story of two sisters dealing with what Pam called “Sixtyfive Roses.”

At sixtyfiverosesthebook.com, you can read reviews, as well as learn more about the author.

Five percent of proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Cystic Fibrosis foundations in
Canada and the US.

If you’d like to enter to win the copy of Sixtyfive Roses: A Sister’s Memoir being given away at Lively Women, please leave a comment on this post before midnight CST on Thursday, March 12, 2009 (Updated expiration date is Monday, March 9, 2009). Since this book is about two sisters, it would be lovely if you’d share a special memory you have with your sister. If you don’t have a sis, please share why you’d like to win this book.

The giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the US. The randomly selected winner will have three days to respond to my e-mail requesting a mailing address.

I look forward to reading your comments!

(Image via sixtyfiverosesthebook.com)

Post from: Blisstree

Book Giveaway: Sixtyfive Roses

John C. Comisi, DDS, FAGD, author of a study in the September/October 2008 issue of General Dentistry, discovered that the blue light emitted from a VELscope detects cancerous oral tissue through oral fluorescence!

When the VELscope shines on healthy cells, they will appear green in color, but damaged cells will look black (that is, they aren’t producing natural fluorescence).

All this oral fluorescence stuff sounds fun, but oral cancer is actually a very serious topic. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, oral cancer kills about one person per hour, 24 hours a day in America. Since oral cancer is often detected late, the survival rate is low.

Some ways to protect yourself against oral cancer:

• Make sure your dentist is performing an oral cancer screening, but also make sure you get yourself to the dentist regularly.

• Talk to your dentist about STDs you may have. Oral cancer may be caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

• Avoid tobacco use, especially if you’re a heavy drinker. If you smoke and drink, you’re 15 times more likely to develop oral cancer.

• If you notice a sore or discolored area of your mouth that doesn’t heal within 14 days, see your dentist.

Do you visit the dentist often?

(Image via stock.xchng)

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Happy Dental Accident Helps Spot Oral Cancer

The Today Show video clip below explains it much better than I can. What happened to Michael Skolnik is a sad, but important story. After their son’s death, the Skolniks decided to do something about lack of patient info on doctors.

Their efforts helped to create House Bill 1331 – Michael Skolnik Transparency Act.

The bill protects you by giving you access to information on your doctors. You can find out if an insurance company has refused to give your doctor malpractice insurance. And you have access to final judgments or settlements of malpractice or negligence and much more.

Visit Patients Right to Know and Colorado Citizens for Accountability for more information on how you can protect yourself and research your doctors.

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House Bill 1331 & Your Right to Know

The new inhalers are green because they will no longer use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). By the end of the year, all albuterol inhalers sold will contain hydrofluoroalkane. The ozone will like us better.

But, you know what usually happens when a drug changes…

No more generic. Boo.

To read about the transition and to get more info on a free medication trial offer, visit the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Have you tried a new inhaler?

Image via stock.xchng.

Post from: Blisstree

Asthma Inhalers Going Green: What it means.

Indeed, pine bark extract was shown to reduce jetlag in passengers by almost 50%.

The study, conducted in Italy at the G. D’Annunzio University and published in the journal of Minerva Cardioangiologica, included 133 passengers taking flights between seven and nine hours long. It used brain CT scans and a scoring system that showed Pycnogenol (pic-noj-en-all) lowered symptoms like fatigue, headaches, insomnia and brain swelling.

Pycnogenol is a natural plant extract that comes exclusively from the bark of the maritime pine growing along the coast of southwest France in Les Landes de Gascogne.

The ingredient is included in many vitamins and dietary supplements on the market already. You can find a retailer online. If you’re in the US, Whole Foods Market is one place to try. Talk to your doc or pharmacist for guidance on using this natural extract to fight jetlag.

Image via MorgueFile.

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Is pine bark the answer to your jetlag?

How?

They know what state you’re in already, and they think flu-related searches are good predictors that the flu’s going down. Well, some people like me search health topics just for fun, but maybe they’re mostly right on this one.

Google believes that their new Google Flu Trends will estimate flu activity up to two weeks faster than traditional flu surveillance systems.

In the past, Google has compared its flu predictions with those from systems used by the CDC, and Google was close on the money and faster. They’re hoping to see similar findings in the future. The CDC collaborated with Google in developing Flu Trends. Read a CNN interview with the lead engineer for Flu Trends.

How do you feel about your Google search terms being used to predict flu activity?

Image via stock.xchng

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Google Flu Trends to Estimate Flu Activity in US

(www.livelywomen.com) — March 1, 2002, was a day like any other in my happy, active life as a 37-year-old writer and mother of two boys. The next morning I woke up with a severe sore throat, aching all over, and exhausted. I figured I had the flu. I had no idea that my life had just changed dramatically and that I now had a chronic illness.

It took me a full year – filled with doctor’s visits, lab tests, pain, and exhaustion – to finally learn that I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), an immune system disorder. My experience was typical. Many people develop CFS suddenly and then go 5, 10, even 15 years before getting an accurate diagnosis. It’s a serious, debilitating illness that is poorly understood by much of the medical community.

What Is CFS?

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that more than 4 million American adults have CFS, with less than 20% of them having an accurate diagnosis. CFS affects four times as many women as men, and even children and teens can get it. Both of my sons, ages 10 and 14, have CFS. Researchers now know that there is a genetic predisposition to CFS, often triggered by some sort of infection or trauma.

Despite its silly-sounding name, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not really all about fatigue. Its symptoms often include:

• Sore throat and/or swollen glands
• Headaches
• Muscle and/or joint pain
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Cognitive impairment of memory and concentration
• Postexertional crashes, where even mild exertion leads to a severe relapse of symptoms.

Although some people with CFS are bedridden or housebound, many of us experience relapsing-remitting symptoms. I feel pretty good on some days, but if I do too much, I’ll find myself back on the couch feeling like I’ve got a severe flu the next day. To avoid these incapacitating crashes, I have to rest a lot and carefully monitor my activity level, even on my good days. CFS is often called an invisible illness because those who have it may appear normal to others, particularly since we’re only able to be out among people when we feel good. No one but our families see us when we’re very ill.

Diagnosis

What can you do if you suspect that you or a loved one has CFS? One of the best sources of information is the CFIDS Association of America (CFIDS is another term for CFS). Their website includes a self-assessment quiz, Do I have CFS?. Another good online resource is the CDC’s own website.

If your symptoms seem to fit, print the CDC’s diagnostic criteria, and take it to your doctor. There is no definitive laboratory test for CFS, so the diagnosis is made based on clinical symptoms. Many other conditions share symptoms with CFS (including MS, Lyme Disease, lupus, and others), so it’s important for your doctor to exclude those through various tests.

What’s Next?

If you or a loved one has CFS, the next step is to treat and manage its symptoms. There is not yet a cure or single effective treatment for CFS, but you can treat its symptoms to improve your quality of life. Medications may help treat sleep dysfunction and pain, thereby improving how you feel overall. One of the most important ways to improve the symptoms of CFS is also one of the most difficult – lifestyle changes, like resting proactively, avoiding exertion, and reducing stress.

Most people are unsure how to react when faced with a friend or family member who’s suddenly (and chronically) ill. Some ways that you can help:

• Learn as much as you can about CFS.
• Understand that your loved one can no longer do many of the things he or she used to do.
• Spend time with your loved one doing things you can both still enjoy, like watching movies, talking, or playing quiet games.
• Let your loved one know that’s it’s OK if she needs to sit or lie down while you’re together and that you understand her new restricted lifestyle.
• Offer to help in concrete ways, like making a meal, taking care of the kids, helping with housework, or doing the shopping (a trip to the grocery store can easily cause a crash for someone with CFS).

I have now had CFS for six years, and my sons have been ill for about four years. All three of us have found medications that help to improve our symptoms, and we’re living – and enjoying – our lives again. Our life now is different than it was before CFS, but it’s still ours.

***

Sue Jackson is a freelance writer, specializing in topics related to family and travel. You can read more about her writing at www.suzanjackson.com. Sue lives in Delaware with her husband and two sons and writes a blog called Living with CFS at www.livewithcfs.blogspot.com.

Tags: lively women, womens health blog, kristen king, sue jackson, suzan jackson, cfs, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic illness, invisible illness, live with CFS

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Invisible Illness

That’s just one of the facts I learned from an excellent publication and companion video called “Leveling the Playing Field: Knee Injury Prevention Strategies for Female Athletes.” The awesome thing is that these strategies aren’t just for athletes; they’re for regular women just like you and me.

Get informed and protect your knees from tears, dislocations, and other painful health events.

• Download the 2-page PDF on preventing knee injuries.
• View the 30-second video on knee injury prevention.

Do you find these resources helpful? Leave a comment with your thoughts!

(image: SXC.hu)

Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King

Tags: womens health blog, women, woman, health, knee, xray, dislocated, acl, anterior cruciate ligament, injury, hurt, prevent, treat, lively women, kristen king

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Advice for Preventing Knee Injuries…Just for Women!

“One of the leading causes of foot problems, from painful conditions to visible deformities, are high heels and other uncomfortable footwear,” says board-certified New York City podiatrist Dr. Oliver Zong. “Since most women are unwilling to sacrifice their stylish footwear, I often help them figure out how to make the necessary compromises for their lifestyle to minimize the amount of pain they suffer and prevent lasting injuries.”

Here are three popular fall shoe styles — and expert advice on how to flaunt your fall fashions without, you know, getting hurt.

Sheepskin-Lined Boots

Oh, they’re adorable alright, and cozy to boot, but sheepskin-lined boots with their flat soles are notorious for causing foot problems, most notably plantar fasciitis.

• Plantar Fasciitis is caused by the inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of the foot connecting the heel to the toes. It causes stabbing or burning pain that’s most pronounced early in the morning because the tissue tightens overnight. The thin and flimsy soles often found in winter’s sheepskin boots lack arch support and are primarily to blame for plantar fasciitis – they fail to offer adequate shock absorption to protect the tissue. The good news is that in most cases, says Dr. Zong, plantar fasciitis can be overcome without invasive surgeries.
• For those who won’t part with their boots, Dr. Zong suggests investing in an over-the-counter orthodic to give the boot some shock absorption. “These boots, while they may be incredibly warm and water proof provide just about no arch support,” says Dr. Zong. “My patients have been very successful both in treating and preventing plantar fasciitis as well as holding onto their boot.”

Oxford-Style High Heels

One of the most appreciated aspects of the Oxford is that the wearer’s foot is well-secured, limiting the risk of embarrassing tripping. Dr. Zong warns that the very same trait is also to blame for one of the most painful and noticeable foot deformities: the bunion. “A bunion results when the big toe becomes misaligned and turns toward the remaining toes,” cautions Dr. Zong. “The bump is actually additional bone formation and any shoe, but especially high heels because they add pressure to that area, with very narrow toe casings are the major culprits.”

• Dr. Zong admits that he’s never convinced a woman to banish her favorite shoe to prevent bunions, but says that limiting the amount of time feet spend in super tight and narrow shoes can make all the difference. If you heed the signs of pain, a bunion can be avoided. However, Dr. Zong warns, once the bunion appears it can only be removed through surgery.
• Another pain-inducing aspect of Oxfords, or any that feature straps or panels across and around the slope of the foot, is the intense pressure they exert. “Women are accustomed to wearing high-heels that grip the foot at the toe and at the ankle, and the newer styles that sheath the foot add pressure where they aren’t used to feeling it,” explains Dr. Zong, adding that often they are paired with sky-high heels. “It causes everything from subtle discomfort to major pain as the muscles below the arch are strained when women instinctively try to stretch the fabric by extending their foot even more.” Dr. Zong’s best advice in this case is to admit defeat and cut your losses: There are some shoes that simply aren’t made for walking and these are among them. Wear them when you know you won’t be trekking far.

Peep-Toe Boots

It may sound counterintuitive, but open-toed shoes, particularly booties, are very popular for the cold months. Most styles feature a high heel punctuated by a narrow opening – a recipe for disaster when it comes to ingrown toenails. “The pressure that the heel and the small opening put on the toes causes the nail to grow abnormally,” explains Dr. Zong, adding the problem can become much more serious. “Fungal infections thrive in the presence of ingrown toenails and the pain can become very severe.”

• Dr. Zong says that if caught in time, ingrown toenails are easily corrected but if left untreated, they can require surgery. The best way, according to Dr. Zong, to prevent an ingrown toenail is to ensure that your shoe fits properly and lay off a troublesome pair until any early signs are addressed and healed.
• Another hazard that arises when wearing open toe shoes in the cold months is the people just aren’t used to it. Fall and winter weather is a powerful force that includes frigid temperatures, ice and rain – all of which can damage a person’s feet. “The biology of the foot changes when it’s constricted by a shoe leaving it more prone to numbness,” cautions Dr. Zong. “The pressure of the shoe combines with the low temperature and feet can loose sensation pretty quick. Whenever your feet are exposed in cold temperatures, just make sure to be conscious of how vulnerable they are.”

So, are you going to give up any of your fall shoes?

Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King

(images: Sheepskin-Lined Boot, Oxford Heel, Peep-Toe Boot)

Tags: womens health blog, women, woman, health, lively women, kristen king, fall fashions, fall footwear, autumn, sheepskin boots, shearling boots, oxford heels, open toe boot, peep toe boot, foot pain, foot injury, prevent

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Avoid These Common Fall Footwear Problems